Veteran jourlist Radhika Mohan Bhagawati no more

GUWAHATI, Sept 30: Creating a huge void in Assamese jourlism, veteran jourlist and prolific writer Radhika Mohan Bhagawati passed away in a city hospital here on Saturday. He was 84. 

“Bhagawati was admitted to a city hospital in a critical state on September 17. He had suffered a massive heart attack. He did not respond to the treatment and passed away at 9.20 am on Saturday”, said hospital sources. 

Born on January 19, 1933 to Govinda Shastri and Hemaprabha Devi at Jamugurihat in Sonitpur district, Bhagawati matriculated in 1950 from Jamuguri High School. He did his post-graduation in Economics from Beras Hindu University (BHU).

Bhagawati started his jourlistic career in 1958 in tun Asomiya, a now-defunct Assamese daily and became editor of Assamese literary magazine Ramdhenu in 1963. He was the founder editor of Ajir Asom, an Assamese daily published by The Sentinel Group. He served the paper from 1987 till his retirement in 2004. He was also the founding editor of Sentinel, a Hindi daily published by the same group from Guwahati. 

The venerated jourlist, who took Assamese jourlism to a new high, joined the Dainik Asom as its editor in 2010 and continued to hold that position till his demise.

An editor with strong jourlistic integrity, Bhagwati also taught part-time at the Communication and Jourlism department in Guwahati University.  

He was the recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1991 for Assamese translation of ‘The Story of Our Newspapers’ by Chanchal Sarkar.

The renowned jourlist was also conferred the prestigious Harendra th Barua award for his jourlistic work in 1990, Shiva Prashad Baruah tiol award for jourlism in 2010, Birendra Kumar Bhattacharya award for jourlism in 2011 and Shashiprabha Barbarua Sahitya Award in 2015. 

He was also honored with ‘Republic Day Jourlism Award’ by the Government of Assam on January 26 this year. 

Bhagawati carved a niche as a writer and has several books to his credit including Roktojoba, Bonoria Ful, Ejon Roja Asil and ‘Asomia’r Puhorot Asomiar Itihashor Chari Doshok.

His well-wishers have recalled their association with Bhagwati and said that he maged to set a gold standard for Assamese jourlism. Tributes poured in from politicians, friends and former colleagues after the news of his demise spread.  

Mourning the death, Governor Banwarilal Purohit termed Bhagawati a colossal figure who enriched jourlism in the State through his long and dedicated association. 

“His death is an irreparable loss which is bound to create a void in the field of jourlism. His long stint with different newspapers and his unflappable contributions towards the growth of Assamese jourlism and literature would always remain as a source of encouragement for budding jourlists and would be remembered by posterity,” Purohit added. 

Expressing his condolences, Chief Minister Sarbanda Sonowal said Radhika Mohan Bhagawati is a “glaring example of jourlistic excellence who immensely enriched the field of jourlism in the State”.

“I feel deeply saddened to hear the news of his demise and pray for eterl peace of his departed soul”, the CM added.

Bhagawati is survived by his two sons—Satyajit and Basujit, daughter Bijoya and a host of relatives.

Following his demise, his mortal remains were taken to his residence at Bezbaruah gar at Maligaon, the Assam Tribune Group office, Media Trust and Guwahati Press Club. His last rites were performed at Bhootth crematorium with full State honors.